PORTLAND — Churches in Maine are partnering with a federal agency to increase security.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland will host workshops this month led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address potential violent situations. Michael Magalski, an executive in the Portland Diocese, requested the federal organization help with the exercises.

Officials told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/2ijVLNC ) the one-day workshops will focus on helping leaders to work with emergency responders, create emergency action plans and identify behavior in order to prevent crises in active shooter situations.

The workshops are open to leaders from all religious dominations.

The training comes in the wake of the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and several other shootings at houses of worship in recent years.